OATES, GORDON FOSTER SR., cherished father, grandfather and devoted friend, passed away during a trip to Greenville, SC on January 16, 2011 at the age of 86.
He is survived by his sons, Gordon F. Oates, Jr. and wife, Valerie of Plano, TX and Robert W. Oates, of Louisville; his grandchildren, Christina Oates, Adam Oates and Kaitlyn Oates, all of Louisville, Sarah Oates and Victoria Oates Borchers and husband, Jacob, all of Dallas, TX. In recent years, Gordon's loving companion, Lucille Barnett of Greenville, brought great joy and happiness to his life and lifted the spirits of his entire family. Gordon is also survived by niece, Susan Baker McDowell and husband, Bill of Omaha, NE and their children, Leslie and Trey; nephew, Robert Baker and wife, Barbara of Radcliff, KY and their children, Robert, Grace and William; nieces, Jennifer Oates and Tori Oates; and nephews, Timothy Oates and Cody Oates.
He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Helen Baker Oates and his younger brother, Warren Oates.
Born in the town of Depoy, KY to parents Sarah Mercer Oates and Bayless Earle Oates, Gordon maintained a life-long appreciation of his Muhlenberg County roots, traveling back often and staying in touch with relatives.
A member of "The Greatest Generation," Gordon served in the U.S. Army's 247th Engineer Combat Battalion during World War II and was among the troops landing in Normandy on D-Day +20. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the Distinguished Unit Citation. He enthusiastically attended many reunions over the years of the Battalion he proudly served, maintaining life-long friendships with the brave soldiers that served with him.
After the war, Gordon attended the University of Louisville where he met his future bride, Helen Baker. Following graduation they married and began their life together, raising two sons as he built a highly successful business career.
Having gained valuable sales experience working for The Courier-Journal, Gordon joined the Vulcan Hart Corporation in October 1955 as sales manager. Over the next three decades, the corporation expanded to include five operating plants in the U.S., two in Canada and one in England, with licensed manufacturers in four countries.
Guided by his principles of integrity, persistence and determination, Gordon's leadership was instrumental in establishing Vulcan Hart as one of America's leading commercial food service equipment manufacturers. He was also a cofounder of the National Foodservice Equipment Manufacturers Association. As an industry leader, he traveled the world; one of his fondest memories was being introduced to and conversing with the Queen Mum at a trade show in England in the mid 1980s. He retired as president and CEO of Vulcan Hart in October 1988.
A true patriarch, Gordon lived a full and distinguished life marked by a fun-loving spirit, extraordinary generosity and an unwavering commitment to family. His children, grandchildren, other family members and friends have benefitted immeasurably from his unconditional love, sound advice and ready support for life's adventures and challenges.
Always proud to be a Louisvillian, Gordon made his second home in Naples, FL, where he worked on his golf game and enjoyed daily rounds of cards, while strengthening friendships old and new. He was a member of Meadowview Presbyterian Church in Louisville, the Pelican Bay Club in Naples and Big Spring Country Club, Louisville. He was also a member and past president of River Road Country Club in Louisville.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 21, 2011 from 2-7 p.m. at Pearson's Funeral Home, 149 Breckenridge Lane, Louisville, KY. Funeral service is noon Saturday at Pearson's, followed by burial in Cave Hill Cemetery.
Published in The Courier-Journal from January 19 to January 21, 2011
He is survived by his sons, Gordon F. Oates, Jr. and wife, Valerie of Plano, TX and Robert W. Oates, of Louisville; his grandchildren, Christina Oates, Adam Oates and Kaitlyn Oates, all of Louisville, Sarah Oates and Victoria Oates Borchers and husband, Jacob, all of Dallas, TX. In recent years, Gordon's loving companion, Lucille Barnett of Greenville, brought great joy and happiness to his life and lifted the spirits of his entire family. Gordon is also survived by niece, Susan Baker McDowell and husband, Bill of Omaha, NE and their children, Leslie and Trey; nephew, Robert Baker and wife, Barbara of Radcliff, KY and their children, Robert, Grace and William; nieces, Jennifer Oates and Tori Oates; and nephews, Timothy Oates and Cody Oates.
He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Helen Baker Oates and his younger brother, Warren Oates.
Born in the town of Depoy, KY to parents Sarah Mercer Oates and Bayless Earle Oates, Gordon maintained a life-long appreciation of his Muhlenberg County roots, traveling back often and staying in touch with relatives.
A member of "The Greatest Generation," Gordon served in the U.S. Army's 247th Engineer Combat Battalion during World War II and was among the troops landing in Normandy on D-Day +20. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the Distinguished Unit Citation. He enthusiastically attended many reunions over the years of the Battalion he proudly served, maintaining life-long friendships with the brave soldiers that served with him.
After the war, Gordon attended the University of Louisville where he met his future bride, Helen Baker. Following graduation they married and began their life together, raising two sons as he built a highly successful business career.
Having gained valuable sales experience working for The Courier-Journal, Gordon joined the Vulcan Hart Corporation in October 1955 as sales manager. Over the next three decades, the corporation expanded to include five operating plants in the U.S., two in Canada and one in England, with licensed manufacturers in four countries.
Guided by his principles of integrity, persistence and determination, Gordon's leadership was instrumental in establishing Vulcan Hart as one of America's leading commercial food service equipment manufacturers. He was also a cofounder of the National Foodservice Equipment Manufacturers Association. As an industry leader, he traveled the world; one of his fondest memories was being introduced to and conversing with the Queen Mum at a trade show in England in the mid 1980s. He retired as president and CEO of Vulcan Hart in October 1988.
A true patriarch, Gordon lived a full and distinguished life marked by a fun-loving spirit, extraordinary generosity and an unwavering commitment to family. His children, grandchildren, other family members and friends have benefitted immeasurably from his unconditional love, sound advice and ready support for life's adventures and challenges.
Always proud to be a Louisvillian, Gordon made his second home in Naples, FL, where he worked on his golf game and enjoyed daily rounds of cards, while strengthening friendships old and new. He was a member of Meadowview Presbyterian Church in Louisville, the Pelican Bay Club in Naples and Big Spring Country Club, Louisville. He was also a member and past president of River Road Country Club in Louisville.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 21, 2011 from 2-7 p.m. at Pearson's Funeral Home, 149 Breckenridge Lane, Louisville, KY. Funeral service is noon Saturday at Pearson's, followed by burial in Cave Hill Cemetery.
Published in The Courier-Journal from January 19 to January 21, 2011
OATES, GORDON FOSTER SR., cherished father, grandfather and devoted friend, passed away during a trip to Greenville, SC on January 16, 2011 at the age of 86.
He is survived by his sons, Gordon F. Oates, Jr. and wife, Valerie of Plano, TX and Robert W. Oates, of Louisville; his grandchildren, Christina Oates, Adam Oates and Kaitlyn Oates, all of Louisville, Sarah Oates and Victoria Oates Borchers and husband, Jacob, all of Dallas, TX. In recent years, Gordon's loving companion, Lucille Barnett of Greenville, brought great joy and happiness to his life and lifted the spirits of his entire family. Gordon is also survived by niece, Susan Baker McDowell and husband, Bill of Omaha, NE and their children, Leslie and Trey; nephew, Robert Baker and wife, Barbara of Radcliff, KY and their children, Robert, Grace and William; nieces, Jennifer Oates and Tori Oates; and nephews, Timothy Oates and Cody Oates.
He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Helen Baker Oates and his younger brother, Warren Oates.
Born in the town of Depoy, KY to parents Sarah Mercer Oates and Bayless Earle Oates, Gordon maintained a life-long appreciation of his Muhlenberg County roots, traveling back often and staying in touch with relatives.
A member of "The Greatest Generation," Gordon served in the U.S. Army's 247th Engineer Combat Battalion during World War II and was among the troops landing in Normandy on D-Day +20. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the Distinguished Unit Citation. He enthusiastically attended many reunions over the years of the Battalion he proudly served, maintaining life-long friendships with the brave soldiers that served with him.
After the war, Gordon attended the University of Louisville where he met his future bride, Helen Baker. Following graduation they married and began their life together, raising two sons as he built a highly successful business career.
Having gained valuable sales experience working for The Courier-Journal, Gordon joined the Vulcan Hart Corporation in October 1955 as sales manager. Over the next three decades, the corporation expanded to include five operating plants in the U.S., two in Canada and one in England, with licensed manufacturers in four countries.
Guided by his principles of integrity, persistence and determination, Gordon's leadership was instrumental in establishing Vulcan Hart as one of America's leading commercial food service equipment manufacturers. He was also a cofounder of the National Foodservice Equipment Manufacturers Association. As an industry leader, he traveled the world; one of his fondest memories was being introduced to and conversing with the Queen Mum at a trade show in England in the mid 1980s. He retired as president and CEO of Vulcan Hart in October 1988.
A true patriarch, Gordon lived a full and distinguished life marked by a fun-loving spirit, extraordinary generosity and an unwavering commitment to family. His children, grandchildren, other family members and friends have benefitted immeasurably from his unconditional love, sound advice and ready support for life's adventures and challenges.
Always proud to be a Louisvillian, Gordon made his second home in Naples, FL, where he worked on his golf game and enjoyed daily rounds of cards, while strengthening friendships old and new. He was a member of Meadowview Presbyterian Church in Louisville, the Pelican Bay Club in Naples and Big Spring Country Club, Louisville. He was also a member and past president of River Road Country Club in Louisville.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 21, 2011 from 2-7 p.m. at Pearson's Funeral Home, 149 Breckenridge Lane, Louisville, KY. Funeral service is noon Saturday at Pearson's, followed by burial in Cave Hill Cemetery.
Published in The Courier-Journal from January 19 to January 21, 2011
He is survived by his sons, Gordon F. Oates, Jr. and wife, Valerie of Plano, TX and Robert W. Oates, of Louisville; his grandchildren, Christina Oates, Adam Oates and Kaitlyn Oates, all of Louisville, Sarah Oates and Victoria Oates Borchers and husband, Jacob, all of Dallas, TX. In recent years, Gordon's loving companion, Lucille Barnett of Greenville, brought great joy and happiness to his life and lifted the spirits of his entire family. Gordon is also survived by niece, Susan Baker McDowell and husband, Bill of Omaha, NE and their children, Leslie and Trey; nephew, Robert Baker and wife, Barbara of Radcliff, KY and their children, Robert, Grace and William; nieces, Jennifer Oates and Tori Oates; and nephews, Timothy Oates and Cody Oates.
He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Helen Baker Oates and his younger brother, Warren Oates.
Born in the town of Depoy, KY to parents Sarah Mercer Oates and Bayless Earle Oates, Gordon maintained a life-long appreciation of his Muhlenberg County roots, traveling back often and staying in touch with relatives.
A member of "The Greatest Generation," Gordon served in the U.S. Army's 247th Engineer Combat Battalion during World War II and was among the troops landing in Normandy on D-Day +20. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the Distinguished Unit Citation. He enthusiastically attended many reunions over the years of the Battalion he proudly served, maintaining life-long friendships with the brave soldiers that served with him.
After the war, Gordon attended the University of Louisville where he met his future bride, Helen Baker. Following graduation they married and began their life together, raising two sons as he built a highly successful business career.
Having gained valuable sales experience working for The Courier-Journal, Gordon joined the Vulcan Hart Corporation in October 1955 as sales manager. Over the next three decades, the corporation expanded to include five operating plants in the U.S., two in Canada and one in England, with licensed manufacturers in four countries.
Guided by his principles of integrity, persistence and determination, Gordon's leadership was instrumental in establishing Vulcan Hart as one of America's leading commercial food service equipment manufacturers. He was also a cofounder of the National Foodservice Equipment Manufacturers Association. As an industry leader, he traveled the world; one of his fondest memories was being introduced to and conversing with the Queen Mum at a trade show in England in the mid 1980s. He retired as president and CEO of Vulcan Hart in October 1988.
A true patriarch, Gordon lived a full and distinguished life marked by a fun-loving spirit, extraordinary generosity and an unwavering commitment to family. His children, grandchildren, other family members and friends have benefitted immeasurably from his unconditional love, sound advice and ready support for life's adventures and challenges.
Always proud to be a Louisvillian, Gordon made his second home in Naples, FL, where he worked on his golf game and enjoyed daily rounds of cards, while strengthening friendships old and new. He was a member of Meadowview Presbyterian Church in Louisville, the Pelican Bay Club in Naples and Big Spring Country Club, Louisville. He was also a member and past president of River Road Country Club in Louisville.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 21, 2011 from 2-7 p.m. at Pearson's Funeral Home, 149 Breckenridge Lane, Louisville, KY. Funeral service is noon Saturday at Pearson's, followed by burial in Cave Hill Cemetery.
Published in The Courier-Journal from January 19 to January 21, 2011
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